Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow: Do we care about the Commonwealth?

Usain Bolt is expected to run in the Jamaican 4×100 relay team in Glasgow (Picture: PA)

As the Commonwealth Games begins in Glasgow today, six people from five different member states tell Metro what the Commonwealth means to them.

Doe it have any relevance in today’s world?

– Maree Schweitzer, 70, is retired and lives in Melbourne, Australia:

‘The Commonwealth is a unique and valuable institution. The fact that over 50 nations from such diverse social, political and economic backgrounds can regularly meet to discuss world issues is an achievement in itself.

‘The Commonwealth led international action against apartheid in supporting sporting, political and economic sanctions – this was, perhaps, its greatest achievement.

‘The Queen is “Queen of Australia”, which can be difficult to understand. Abroad, I’m often asked how she can be queen of a country in which she was not born and doesn’t live and is not an Australian.

‘It’s quite embarrassing – Australia should become a republic and stay within the Commonwealth with the Queen as its head.’

– Esme Palmer, 26, is a charity worker from Edinburgh who is now travelling in New Zealand:

‘The Commonwealth never meant anything to me until I moved from the UK to New Zealand.

‘I’m from Scotland and almost every Kiwi I meet tells me about an ancestor who came from Fife – they want to make that connection.

‘We share a history and a culture, for example we like the same sports, and they even slap the Queen on their bank notes – she’s worth $20 – and have a public holiday on her official birthday, which is more than can be said about the UK.

‘In this globalised-yet-unequal world, where my own country is on the brink of dividing itself, the Commonwealth is a good thing, where we can embrace our similarities, welcome our international responsibilities, and hold on to the ties that bind us.’

‘The Commonwealth exists on paper but not in reality for most Nigerians.

‘It doesn’t mean anything to Nigerians when it could be promoting good governance and democracy and making a positive impact.

‘Gambia has left the Commonwealth, so we will see how that impacts them and whether there is any value in being in the Commonwealth. We have common interests, shared values and culture, so the Commonwealth should move us forward together.

‘If you talk to youth and ask, “What is the Commonwealth?”, they don’t know.’

‘We’re not sure the Commonwealth actually exists. It exists on paper, but not in reality for most Nigerians.

‘Apart from the Games and a few scholarships, we don’t see anything in the Commonwealth. It should be about the common good, promoting good governance, responsibility, democracy.

‘I don’t feel the Commonwealth would be interfering if it had a bigger presence in Nigeria – I don’t feel it would be colonial masters interfering in our country.

‘Perhaps if we could connect Nigerians in Britain with Nigerians in Nigeria, it could make the Commonwealth amount to something.

‘If the Commonwealth Games were to have football – it would connect with Nigerians, because Nigerians have such a big interest in football. There has to be something that attracts people, something eye-catching.’

‘Apart from the Commonwealth Games and the occasional visit from the Queen, on the ground Trinidadians don’t see any benefits from the Commonwealth.

‘Under-30s used to be able to get a two-year work visa in Britain but that no longer exists. It’s a shame as Trinidadians would like to study, live and work in the mother country, before coming back – like my parents.

‘Trinidadians are disappointed they can’t do that, and now that’s gone it means the link between Trinidad and Britain is dwindling.’

– Arjun Bajaj, 27, a music executive in Mumbai, India:

‘Indians feel like we have a special relationship with Britain, but that’s more to do with family connections with Indians in Britain than any special relationship between our governments.

‘We have very bad memories of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi when there was a huge waste of public funds and corruption scandals.

‘The Commonwealth doesn’t feel relevant whereas the recent BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Brazil seems more important and relevant to us today.

‘We are looking forward and it seems like the Commonwealth looks backwards.’